Eastern Conference: Games To Watch For

June 23 – New York Liberty

Led by Cappie Pondexter’s second half surge, the New York Liberty stormed into the playoffs and the Eastern Conference finals, winning 13 of their last 15 before dropping two straight to the conference champion Atlanta
Dream to end their season.

A year removed from winning a championship with the Phoenix Mercury, Pondexter dominated under the bright lights of New York averaging career best in points (21.4), field goal percentage (48.3), three-point percentage (43.0) and free throw percentage (89.2).

Pondexter along with former Shock Plenette Pierson, and the Liberty will make their one and only trip to Tulsa on Thursday June 23.

July 26 – Atlanta Dream

Angel McCoughtry made a leap. She made the leap so large that she was able to carry her team all the way to the WNBA Finals before being swept by the Seattle Storm.
In her second year, McCoughtry became one of the most exciting players in the league averaging 21.1 points (third in the league), 4.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 steals a game. Already considered one of the great players in the game, McCoughtry upped her game in the playoffs, averaging 26.7 points including 42 points in the clinching game against the Liberty in the Eastern Conference Finals and a 35-point performance in the Game Three loss to Seattle in the finals.

Will McCoughtry make another jump on the court in her third season as she vies to become the best player in the WNBA? It’s a strong possibility and Tulsa will have its best chance of witnessing the leap on Tuesday July 26 when the Dream make their only stop in Tulsa in the regular season.

Friday August 5 – Indiana Fever

Tamika Catchings will bring her all-around game to Tulsa after completing a 2010 campaign that included career-best shooting from both the field and three-point territory. Catchings shot 44.8 percent from three (first in the league) and 48.4 from the field overall to go along with her league-leading 2.3 steals a game for the playoff-bound Fever.

Although the Fever were eliminated early by a red-hot New York Liberty squad in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, the framework of a team that lost in the decisive Game Five of the WNBA Finals to the Phoenix Mercury is still intact with Catchings and Katie Douglas.